Tool for splitting and hulling peas



March 18, 1941. T. P. TURNER 2,235,342

TOOL FOR SPLITTING AND HULLING PEAS Filed Nov. 7, 1939 W, a i

. In ventor 72 0/1445 2 Tbfi/VER,

Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOL FOR SPLITTINGAND HULLING PEAS Thomas P. Turner, Gafiney, S. C.

Application November 7, 1939,-Serial No. 303,340 -1 Claim. (01. 30 -294)This invention relates to cutting implements and more particularly to adevice particularly designed to facilitate the splitting and hulling ofpeas, and more particularly green field peas known in certain sectionsof the country, particularly in the South, as cow peas.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this characterwhich will reduce to a minimum the time and labor necessary forsplitting and hulling peas, and whereby the desired results may beobtained without recourse to the finger nails as is now sometimesrequired.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe device.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof and illustrating theapplication of the invention, and

Figure 3 is a side elevational viewwith the device at the head endthereof shown partly in section and partly in elevation.

Referring more in detail to the drawing it will be seen that the devicecomprises a handle 5- equipped at one end thereof with a head 6 that ispreferably integral with the handle. The handle 5 and head 6 may be madeof wood, metal or other suitable material, and preferably the head 6 isrelatively narrow and long as shown.

The head 6 at the free end thereof is provided with an arcuate notch 1providing a concave to accommodate the pea pod in a manner suggested inFigure 2, in which figure the pea pod is shown in broken lines andindicated by the reference numeral 8.

The head 6 is also provided with a groove 9 disposed at about thelongitudinal median of the head and extending for substantially the fulllength of the head inwardly from the concave end 1 thereof and as shown.

The groove 9 is adapted to accommodate a cutting blade ID as shown.

The blade i9 is preferably formed from' steel and is of the shape shownhaving the longest longitudinal edge thereof beveled to a knife edge ll.

Also, at the opposite ends thereof the body of the blade I9 is beveledas at l2 so as to provide at opposite ends of the blade, and at the 50knife edge thereof, points for piercing the pea pod and thus facilitateinitial cutting of the pod.

, The blade It] may be secured within the groove 9 through any suitableinstrumentality. In the present instance there is shown the set screw l3for this purpose. The set screw [3 has threaded engagement with the head6 at one side thereof and obviously by threading the screw home againstthe blade 10 the same will be clamped in the groove 9 between the innerend of the set screw and a wall of the groove.

In use of the tool, the pea pod 8 may be placed 10 on a table or otherflat surface as suggested in Figure 2, and the pod accommodated in therecess or concave 1 of the head 6 with the tool held at the anglesuggested in Figure 2. Obviously, by exerting a slight downward pressureon the 15 .tool the point of the blade ID will pierce the pod and thenby moving the tool lengthwise of the pod the latter will be split forsubstantially the full length thereof.

From the above it will be obvious that the op- 20 eration of splittingand hulling the peas is greatly simplified and can be accomplishedsolely by use of the tool and without recourse to the finger nails orfingers, the main objection to the use of which is the amount of timeconsumed in hull- 25 ing under such circumstances as well as theresultant injury to the finger nails and fingers.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utilityand advantages of an invention of this character will be had without amore 30 detailed description.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A tool for splitting the hulls of peas comprising an elongated straighthandle, an elongated substantially rectangular head extending axiallyfrom one end of the handle and having a top face and a transverselyconcaved front end, said head being provided with a central longitudinalslot in the top face thereof opening into said concaved end of the headand having aclosed rear end,

and a blade-like cutting element having a straight cutting edge andfitting downwardly in said slot with the cutting edge thereof lowermost,said element being longer than said slot to abut the rear end of thelatter and project into said concaved end of the head, and means todetachably secure said element in said slot.

THOMAS P. TURNER.

